Mariah Carey: Singer and Songwriter 510 Million Net worth

Kobo ebook | February 10, 2015

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Ever since she had her very first "Vision of Love" in 1990, the singing and songwriting efforts of one Mariah Carey have shown up as regularly on the Billboard 100 as razzle-dazzle custom-made bras have shown up on Madonna's bust. With one of the most stunning looks in entertainment and perhaps the most recognizable voices in music, the legacy of Mariah Carey spans more than 20 years and across more than 10 albums of music. Even in the early stages of middle age, she still maintains a fan base that attracts both sexes and covers wide demographics with equal international aplomb. If you haven't seen her, you've heard her, but there's a greater chance that you've done both.

Mariah Carey has touched everyone's pop culture experience in some way, whether it be the sounds of hit singles like "One Sweet Day," "I'll Be There" or "My All" -- or the sights of her in a Bond Girl bikini in the music video for "Honey," or her swift escape from the altar in "We Belong Together." While the movie misfire of Glitter will always be a special damp mark on her career, Carey's enduring musical legacy and blossoming acting credentials (greatly enhanced by Precious) will keep her relevant for at least a few more years to come, especially with her new role as judge on American Idol.

Has Mariah Carey ever stopped being sexy? No. In fact, like fine wine, she's only gotten better with age. Originally displaying a sex appeal that was sophisticated and elegant in showy heels and tight-fitting dresses, Mariah Carey had the look and sound of a woman that every guy hoped would magically drop in through their chimney to perform a surprise serenade of "All I Want For Christmas is You." A later career evolution saw her (almost literally) lose the clothes for a more body-baring look that only confirmed the hotness that was long-suspected to be underneath. Still a stunner, Mariah Carey's slight diva streak might be a turn-off for some men, but there are many more guys who would be happy to worship the ground that she walks on and treat her like entertainment royalty.

The most influential man in the early stages of Mariah Carey's career was also the most influential in her personal life. Tommy Mottola, the Columbia Records exec who launched her career, also became her husband in 1993, however, their union proved to be short-lived and they split in 1997. Romances with baseball star Derek Jeter, action star Vin Diesel and Mexican singer Luis Miguel followed before Mariah Carey eventually married the younger comedian Nick Cannon in 2008. With a marriage that exists outside of the gossip rags -- minus the occasional pregnancy rumor or jab from Mariah Carey's was-he-or-wasn't-he-an-ex Eminem -- the two entertainers have thus far made their unexpected celebrity union work. The couple had twins in 2011.

Where raw talent is concerned, Mariah Carey is the full package, possessing a singing voice that usually stays within five octaves but can actually span eight and go as high as a whistle. No other professional female singer today can even come close to that kind of range. As effective as belting out a soulful ballad as she is singing an up-tempo tune, Mariah is comfortable in her own singing skin and is every bit the talent she was 20 years ago. Through this talent, she has achieved five Grammy Awards to go along with 79 No. 1 charting weeks in the United States (a record), 18 No. 1 songs (second to The Beatles), and album, video and single sales in excess of 175 million, which is good enough to place her in the top three best-selling female artists in history.

Like any entertainment figure, Mariah Carey has endured professional misfires -- chief among them was the colossal failure of Glitter, a movie (and accompany soundtrack) that was intended to give her a second life as an actress. Having (not unexpectedly) bounced back from the experience on a musical level, she has also made more surprising strides as an actress, especially after the success of her role in the Oscar-winning film Precious. With her unique creative footprints on both the music and film worlds, Mariah Carey is jumping into the television world and about to see firsthand what life is like on American Idol.